Jayce
Chiharu Shida and Nami Matsuyama clinched the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking their Olympic debut with a memorable performance. In an interview, Shida revealed that their parents were present at the venue, saying, “We are very happy to finally make them smile.”
Ranked 4th in the world, Shida and Matsuyama impressed in their first appearance on the Olympic stage. They defeated the Malaysian pair Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan in straight sets in the women’s doubles bronze medal match, securing a place on the podium. The Japanese badminton team concluded the Olympics with two bronze medals.
Shida commented after the match, “Our parents were here, and we could hear them cheering for us. We are very happy to finally make them smile. I am also very grateful to my partner Matsuyama.”
Matsuyama mentioned that they were disappointed after losing in the semifinals. She struggled to manage her emotions and was initially afraid of competing in the bronze medal match. However, once they stepped onto the court, those negative emotions disappeared. “We prepared thoroughly and did everything we could. We are very happy to have won the bronze medal.”
